Rea, Edward | Day 22

Received £5 for a committee room, £6 as a canvasser and £81 to distribute amongst 27 voters. He canvassed with George Edward Porter.

The Fountain Inn which has long since been demolished was next to the Royal Hotel on the south side.

Witness Type: Briber, No Indemnity, Publican, Beerhouse Keeper

Party: Conservative

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 6

Witness Testimony:

  • 22402.

    (Mr. Holl.) He said there had been a flare up ? — Yes, put them on the fire.

  • 22403.

    A flare up in his office ? — Yes.

  • 22404.

    Did he say he had burnt the papers or vouchers in connexion with the election ? — Yes.

  • 22405.

    And something he showed you was all he left? — Yes, something with writing on it. I never saw it. Olds took charge of it, and I suppose he has it now. I do not know what was on it.

  • 22406.

    Was that all that took place ? — That is all that took place in my hearing, but they had private conversations at Canterbury and London by themselves.

  • 22407.

    Which you did not hear ? — No. I was waiting in the other office.

  • 22408.

    You had a meeting afterwards here amongst yourselves ? — The night we came home.

  • 22409.

    You were present ? — Yes.

  • 22410.

    And Mr. Olds ? — Yes.

  • 22411.

    And the others who had been connected with the distribution of the money ? — Yes.

  • 22412.

    Give me their names ? — I could not give you their names.

  • 22413.

    Give as many as you can remember ? — One Mr. Spears was there, Mackie was there. Porter and I were there.

  • 22414.

    Which Mr. Spears ? — Henry Spears, and Robert Jones, Bushell, Soloman, Hayman, and Wise. I think Wood was there too, and Wilds was there.

  • 22415.

    Evans ? — No.

  • 22416.

    J. J. Ralph ? — No.

  • 22417.

    Was Licence there ? — No, he had nothing to do with it.

  • 22418.

    Philps ? — No.

  • 22419.

    Now what took place ? — Only just that it was mentioned we were to cut the list down so as to take money off.

  • 22420.

    It was arranged you were to cut the list down ? — Yes, so as to keep this money that went across to the Continent to Calais out of sight; and that is the reason why the list is cut down.

  • 22421.

    (Mr. Turner.) Olds was at this meeting you say ? — Yes , most decidedly.

  • 22422.

    (Mr. Holl.) Did Olds say anything about seeing Mr. Hughes at this meeting ? — There was nothing mentioned only at this meeting.

  • 22423.

    You say nothing was mentioned except at the meeting. Tell us what was said at the meeting ? — There was nothing said at the meeting at all, only that we had seen Mr. Hughes, and Mr. Hughes did not know anything about this money, therefore that this money was to be put on one side, and we was to cut the list down as well as we could.

  • 22424.

    (Mr. Turner.) Who proposed that ? — It was proposed in the room by Mr. Olds. Of course I cannot say whether Mr. Hughes said so to Mr. Olds.

  • 22425.

    But Olds proposed it ? — Yes. (Mr. Holl.) What had taken place between Olds and Hughes; you do not know ? — No.

  • 22426.

    Is there anything more you can remember ? — I do not think I can tell you anything more. I have told you everything as straightforward as ever I can.

  • 22889.

    Who said that ? — Olds said that.